A Beauty With a Bat

(( Hello do you like spooky tragic skeleton men? Well this is the blog for you! This is an independent Lewis Pepper side blog from mystery skulls animated written by pineapple! please read about and rules before interacting. ))

Thank you so much, and I hope everyone has a lovely day!

Art credit: Image belongs to @lottafandoms and is used with her permission. Do not repost or use this image without speaking to her first.

Vivi glanced around the lobby of the Haunted Playhouse, feeling more than a little lost. After the mess she’d made last time, she figured it was a good idea to call ahead of time and schedule her interview with the Phantom of the Musical - Mr. Rowan Russel, she reminded herself, recalling the name she’d finally thought to ask over the phone - and she was thrilled to actually get an appointment. And yet… She still recalled how Cerise had been in tears after learning the ghost haunting her family’s theater was in fact her father. Had the two sorted everything out yet? Had anything changed between them since Cerise learned the big secret? … And was anybody going to come show Vivi where to go? She didn’t want to sneak in through the shops again, but if Mr. Russel, or Cerise, or Note and Cadence, or SOMEBODY didn’t come out and give her directions, she might just have to.

“Sadly… she passed the next year. Papa Daiki is still alive though.”

Mystery glanced up at her, as if only just realizing he’d spoken aloud. “No,” he said flatly after a long pause.

“There,” she panted. “That should… hold it off… for like… an hour…” She looked at Alice. “How the hell do you guys keep getting these idiots dropping off magical creatures at the clinic!?”

She distributed the other three among her small party, slipping one into the folds of her scarf, securing one under Mystery’s collar, and handing the last to Alice. “Place that wherever it will stay on you best. It’ll give you a warding bubble to keep the fox away. Once you’ve got it set, we’ll go on three.”

Vivi, on the other hand, made a mad dash down the hall, map from Alice in hand, aiming for the nearest exit. Hopefully she would find her target there.

Mystery was having a tough time of his own, the kumiho all too happy to smack him around with its tails. “You’re lucky I’m keeping a low profile,” he snarled at the beast, blowing wisps of fox fire in its face. Oh, how he wished he could cut loose and use his full power on his malevolent Korean cousin, but between his own poor self-control in that form and a certain bloodthirsty tree, he knew he couldn’t risk it. No, he would have to settle for wisps, kicks, and bites until Alice had that rope ready.

The hallway was starting to heat up as Mystery and the kumiho resorted to blowing puffs of fox-fire at each other. Mystery was doing his best to keep up, but it wasn’t easy with a two-tail disadvantage and the majority of his power held back. Eventually the not-dog gave it up, nimbly rolling to one side so he could- Oh for the love of Inari why do these floor tiles have to be so damn slippery!? He slid across the floor, claws clacking as he scrambled to regain his balance.

…..Wait, how was she going to do this again?! Was she supposed to get under the beast and put its paw through a hoop and then pull till it gave out and fell?!

Mystery’s sentence was cut off by a deep growl. The kumiho had followed his trajectory, and was now sizing up him and Alice, puffs of flame spouting from its mouth as it prepared to pounce.

“Your timing couldn’t be better, Viv’.” Mystery grinned and looked at Alice. “Come on, Alice. We’re gonna run circles around this thing, literally. Opposite directions, and get the rope around its legs so it can’t take a step.”

The kumiho snarled, still shaking off the hit it had taken from Vivi. The bluenette didn’t give it the chance, though, giving it another whack to the head before it could fully recover. “Don’t even think about it,” she said with a glare.

Vivi glanced around the lobby of the Haunted Playhouse, feeling more than a little lost. After the mess she’d made last time, she figured it was a good idea to call ahead of time and schedule her interview with the Phantom of the Musical - Mr. Rowan Russel, she reminded herself, recalling the name she’d finally thought to ask over the phone - and she was thrilled to actually get an appointment. And yet… She still recalled how Cerise had been in tears after learning the ghost haunting her family’s theater was in fact her father. Had the two sorted everything out yet? Had anything changed between them since Cerise learned the big secret? … And was anybody going to come show Vivi where to go? She didn’t want to sneak in through the shops again, but if Mr. Russel, or Cerise, or Note and Cadence, or SOMEBODY didn’t come out and give her directions, she might just have to.

“Whoa! Mystery, are you okay?” Vivi crouched down beside the bed to check on him, but the only reply he gave was a frightened whine.

“M-Mystery..? Did I do something wrong..?” She leaned over her bed, pink and green hair draping onto the floor, “I’m sorry if I did…”

Vivi frowned, the gears turning in her head. Clearly it was a smell that set him off, but… No… surely she can’t be THAT cheesy. “Hey, Cerise… Are you by any chance wearing anything with a cherry blossom fragrance? I don’t know why, but Mystery gets REALLY freaked out when he smells cherry blossoms. I can’t even take him down certain roads in the spring without him making a run for it.”

She hopped off the bed, going to her bathroom and coming back with the bottle, “I… I didn’t know…”

Hesitantly he took a whiff. His whole body relaxed as he recognized the scent of jasmine, Vivi’s fragrance of choice, and he bowed his head for her to give him a scratch behind the ears. Eventually Mystery eased out from under the bed. He still glanced around the room warily, but at least he wasn’t scared out of his mind anymore.

“Sorry, Mystery… I didn’t know.”

“You wish,” Mystery quipped. “None of your family owns me. You’re my latest ward. And 150 years is just the tip of the iceberg. I lost track several decades ago, but I’m somewhere over 1200 at least. But uh… you know, if anyone asks, I’m seven. I’m trying to keep a low profile.” With that last sentence, he sniffed around the room anxiously.

“If you’re willing to talk around her, I figure it can’t be that bad. Besides, it’s important information for anyone close to me. Chichi might not like magic, but he still passed that bit of family wisdom down to me. ‘Anyone you get close to needs to know his name, for their own safety. If ever he goes rogue, you have to call him by his full name.’ If Mr. No-Magic-Allowed still told me that, it must be important.”

Vivi glanced around the lobby of the Haunted Playhouse, feeling more than a little lost. After the mess she’d made last time, she figured it was a good idea to call ahead of time and schedule her interview with the Phantom of the Musical - Mr. Rowan Russel, she reminded herself, recalling the name she’d finally thought to ask over the phone - and she was thrilled to actually get an appointment. And yet… She still recalled how Cerise had been in tears after learning the ghost haunting her family’s theater was in fact her father. Had the two sorted everything out yet? Had anything changed between them since Cerise learned the big secret? … And was anybody going to come show Vivi where to go? She didn’t want to sneak in through the shops again, but if Mr. Russel, or Cerise, or Note and Cadence, or SOMEBODY didn’t come out and give her directions, she might just have to.

“Whoa! Mystery, are you okay?” Vivi crouched down beside the bed to check on him, but the only reply he gave was a frightened whine.

“M-Mystery..? Did I do something wrong..?” She leaned over her bed, pink and green hair draping onto the floor, “I’m sorry if I did…”

Vivi frowned, the gears turning in her head. Clearly it was a smell that set him off, but… No… surely she can’t be THAT cheesy. “Hey, Cerise… Are you by any chance wearing anything with a cherry blossom fragrance? I don’t know why, but Mystery gets REALLY freaked out when he smells cherry blossoms. I can’t even take him down certain roads in the spring without him making a run for it.”

She hopped off the bed, going to her bathroom and coming back with the bottle, “I… I didn’t know…”

Hesitantly he took a whiff. His whole body relaxed as he recognized the scent of jasmine, Vivi’s fragrance of choice, and he bowed his head for her to give him a scratch behind the ears. Eventually Mystery eased out from under the bed. He still glanced around the room warily, but at least he wasn’t scared out of his mind anymore.

“Sorry, Mystery… I didn’t know.”

“You wish,” Mystery quipped. “None of your family owns me. You’re my latest ward. And 150 years is just the tip of the iceberg. I lost track several decades ago, but I’m somewhere over 1200 at least. But uh... you know, if anyone asks, I’m seven. I’m trying to keep a low profile.” With that last sentence, he sniffed around the room anxiously.

“There,” she panted. “That should… hold it off… for like… an hour…” She looked at Alice. “How the hell do you guys keep getting these idiots dropping off magical creatures at the clinic!?”

She distributed the other three among her small party, slipping one into the folds of her scarf, securing one under Mystery’s collar, and handing the last to Alice. “Place that wherever it will stay on you best. It’ll give you a warding bubble to keep the fox away. Once you’ve got it set, we’ll go on three.”

Vivi, on the other hand, made a mad dash down the hall, map from Alice in hand, aiming for the nearest exit. Hopefully she would find her target there.

Mystery was having a tough time of his own, the kumiho all too happy to smack him around with its tails. “You’re lucky I’m keeping a low profile,” he snarled at the beast, blowing wisps of fox fire in its face. Oh, how he wished he could cut loose and use his full power on his malevolent Korean cousin, but between his own poor self-control in that form and a certain bloodthirsty tree, he knew he couldn’t risk it. No, he would have to settle for wisps, kicks, and bites until Alice had that rope ready.

The hallway was starting to heat up as Mystery and the kumiho resorted to blowing puffs of fox-fire at each other. Mystery was doing his best to keep up, but it wasn’t easy with a two-tail disadvantage and the majority of his power held back. Eventually the not-dog gave it up, nimbly rolling to one side so he could- Oh for the love of Inari why do these floor tiles have to be so damn slippery!? He slid across the floor, claws clacking as he scrambled to regain his balance.

…..Wait, how was she going to do this again?! Was she supposed to get under the beast and put its paw through a hoop and then pull till it gave out and fell?!

Mystery’s sentence was cut off by a deep growl. The kumiho had followed his trajectory, and was now sizing up him and Alice, puffs of flame spouting from its mouth as it prepared to pounce.

“Your timing couldn’t be better, Viv’.” Mystery grinned and looked at Alice. “Come on, Alice. We’re gonna run circles around this thing, literally. Opposite directions, and get the rope around its legs so it can’t take a step.”

“Don’t be like that! You won’t make any progress if you don’t get even a little practice.” The two women had arranged to meet up in a vacant lot on the outskirts of town so Alice could have a real practice session with her dynamokinesis. “Now take my hand and let’s see what happens when you try and blast that old oil drum. Mystery said I’ve got some kind of new energy waking up inside me lately, and I can’t think of a better way to find out what it could be.”

Keeping Vivi’s advice in mind, she drew in a breath, gathered the energy, pictured an icicle, and with a sharp hand motion and a “HAH!”, an icicle pierced the bin.

“There,” she panted. “That should… hold it off… for like… an hour…” She looked at Alice. “How the hell do you guys keep getting these idiots dropping off magical creatures at the clinic!?”

She distributed the other three among her small party, slipping one into the folds of her scarf, securing one under Mystery’s collar, and handing the last to Alice. “Place that wherever it will stay on you best. It’ll give you a warding bubble to keep the fox away. Once you’ve got it set, we’ll go on three.”

Vivi, on the other hand, made a mad dash down the hall, map from Alice in hand, aiming for the nearest exit. Hopefully she would find her target there.

Mystery was having a tough time of his own, the kumiho all too happy to smack him around with its tails. “You’re lucky I’m keeping a low profile,” he snarled at the beast, blowing wisps of fox fire in its face. Oh, how he wished he could cut loose and use his full power on his malevolent Korean cousin, but between his own poor self-control in that form and a certain bloodthirsty tree, he knew he couldn’t risk it. No, he would have to settle for wisps, kicks, and bites until Alice had that rope ready.

The hallway was starting to heat up as Mystery and the kumiho resorted to blowing puffs of fox-fire at each other. Mystery was doing his best to keep up, but it wasn’t easy with a two-tail disadvantage and the majority of his power held back. Eventually the not-dog gave it up, nimbly rolling to one side so he could- Oh for the love of Inari why do these floor tiles have to be so damn slippery!? He slid across the floor, claws clacking as he scrambled to regain his balance.

…..Wait, how was she going to do this again?! Was she supposed to get under the beast and put its paw through a hoop and then pull till it gave out and fell?!

Mystery’s sentence was cut off by a deep growl. The kumiho had followed his trajectory, and was now sizing up him and Alice, puffs of flame spouting from its mouth as it prepared to pounce.

“Yeah, but! That’s! Not! As much! Fun!” With each pause, she swung the bat down hard on the pegs. Soon, the tent was securely fastened to the ground. Vivi wiped some sweat from her brow, holding the bat over her shoulder and beaming with pride at her handiwork. “See? It works just fiiiiine, and so will everything else on our trip.”

A little wild goose chase should do nicely. It quietly leap onto the ground with a small smile, ready to initiate the chase

Vivi, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the company. She merely continued setting up camp, assembling a fire pit and a decent size pile of kindling.

The large creature crouched low to the ground and stalked to a tree near them. It leapt onto a high tree branch and sat with a feline-like hunch with its large wings spread wide open, it’s eyes highlighted against its silhouette in a squint.

“Wait, for real? That was faaaaaaAAAAAAAA!” She nearly fell over in surprise on seeing the looming figure of the griffin perched high in the tree above them. “Shit, I didn’t think this would get real so fast! Dammit, where’s that tag…” She fished around in her sleeves, hastily searching for a binding spell to hold the griffin in place.

While Vivi searched for something in her sleeve, the griffin turned tail and proceeded to leap from one branch to another until it reached the ground and bolted

“Ow,” she groaned before glaring up at the rather smug-looking griffin. “If I stained my skirt because of you, you’re gonna be sorry!”

“Not a bad idea,” Vivi whispered back, “but go slow. We don’t wanna scare this thing.” The pooch nodded and padded across the campsite, keeping low to the ground. Meanwhile Vivi reached up her sleeve with the smooth, graceful slowness of a glacier, searching for the spell tag once more. She scarcely dared to breathe with the griffin in such close proximity.

It’s mind was going a thousand miles an hour trying to carefully think of how to disarm Vivi without hurting her or facing Mystery’s wrath.

As fast as it bring itself to move, the griffin used its wings to propel itself to the nearest branch it could grab.

“There,” she panted. “That should… hold it off… for like… an hour…” She looked at Alice. “How the hell do you guys keep getting these idiots dropping off magical creatures at the clinic!?”

She distributed the other three among her small party, slipping one into the folds of her scarf, securing one under Mystery’s collar, and handing the last to Alice. “Place that wherever it will stay on you best. It’ll give you a warding bubble to keep the fox away. Once you’ve got it set, we’ll go on three.”

Vivi, on the other hand, made a mad dash down the hall, map from Alice in hand, aiming for the nearest exit. Hopefully she would find her target there.

Mystery was having a tough time of his own, the kumiho all too happy to smack him around with its tails. “You’re lucky I’m keeping a low profile,” he snarled at the beast, blowing wisps of fox fire in its face. Oh, how he wished he could cut loose and use his full power on his malevolent Korean cousin, but between his own poor self-control in that form and a certain bloodthirsty tree, he knew he couldn’t risk it. No, he would have to settle for wisps, kicks, and bites until Alice had that rope ready.

The hallway was starting to heat up as Mystery and the kumiho resorted to blowing puffs of fox-fire at each other. Mystery was doing his best to keep up, but it wasn’t easy with a two-tail disadvantage and the majority of his power held back. Eventually the not-dog gave it up, nimbly rolling to one side so he could- Oh for the love of Inari why do these floor tiles have to be so damn slippery!? He slid across the floor, claws clacking as he scrambled to regain his balance.

…..Wait, how was she going to do this again?! Was she supposed to get under the beast and put its paw through a hoop and then pull till it gave out and fell?!

“Yeah, but! That’s! Not! As much! Fun!” With each pause, she swung the bat down hard on the pegs. Soon, the tent was securely fastened to the ground. Vivi wiped some sweat from her brow, holding the bat over her shoulder and beaming with pride at her handiwork. “See? It works just fiiiiine, and so will everything else on our trip.”

A little wild goose chase should do nicely. It quietly leap onto the ground with a small smile, ready to initiate the chase

Vivi, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the company. She merely continued setting up camp, assembling a fire pit and a decent size pile of kindling.

The large creature crouched low to the ground and stalked to a tree near them. It leapt onto a high tree branch and sat with a feline-like hunch with its large wings spread wide open, it’s eyes highlighted against its silhouette in a squint.

“Wait, for real? That was faaaaaaAAAAAAAA!” She nearly fell over in surprise on seeing the looming figure of the griffin perched high in the tree above them. “Shit, I didn’t think this would get real so fast! Dammit, where’s that tag…” She fished around in her sleeves, hastily searching for a binding spell to hold the griffin in place.

While Vivi searched for something in her sleeve, the griffin turned tail and proceeded to leap from one branch to another until it reached the ground and bolted

“Ow,” she groaned before glaring up at the rather smug-looking griffin. “If I stained my skirt because of you, you’re gonna be sorry!”

“Not a bad idea,” Vivi whispered back, “but go slow. We don’t wanna scare this thing.” The pooch nodded and padded across the campsite, keeping low to the ground. Meanwhile Vivi reached up her sleeve with the smooth, graceful slowness of a glacier, searching for the spell tag once more. She scarcely dared to breathe with the griffin in such close proximity.

It’s mind was going a thousand miles an hour trying to carefully think of how to disarm Vivi without hurting her or facing Mystery’s wrath.

Vivi glanced around the lobby of the Haunted Playhouse, feeling more than a little lost. After the mess she’d made last time, she figured it was a good idea to call ahead of time and schedule her interview with the Phantom of the Musical - Mr. Rowan Russel, she reminded herself, recalling the name she’d finally thought to ask over the phone - and she was thrilled to actually get an appointment. And yet… She still recalled how Cerise had been in tears after learning the ghost haunting her family’s theater was in fact her father. Had the two sorted everything out yet? Had anything changed between them since Cerise learned the big secret? … And was anybody going to come show Vivi where to go? She didn’t want to sneak in through the shops again, but if Mr. Russel, or Cerise, or Note and Cadence, or SOMEBODY didn’t come out and give her directions, she might just have to.

“Whoa! Mystery, are you okay?” Vivi crouched down beside the bed to check on him, but the only reply he gave was a frightened whine.

“M-Mystery..? Did I do something wrong..?” She leaned over her bed, pink and green hair draping onto the floor, “I’m sorry if I did…”

Vivi frowned, the gears turning in her head. Clearly it was a smell that set him off, but… No… surely she can’t be THAT cheesy. “Hey, Cerise… Are you by any chance wearing anything with a cherry blossom fragrance? I don’t know why, but Mystery gets REALLY freaked out when he smells cherry blossoms. I can’t even take him down certain roads in the spring without him making a run for it.”

She hopped off the bed, going to her bathroom and coming back with the bottle, “I… I didn’t know…”

Hesitantly he took a whiff. His whole body relaxed as he recognized the scent of jasmine, Vivi’s fragrance of choice, and he bowed his head for her to give him a scratch behind the ears. Eventually Mystery eased out from under the bed. He still glanced around the room warily, but at least he wasn’t scared out of his mind anymore.

“Sorry, Mystery… I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, but! That’s! Not! As much! Fun!” With each pause, she swung the bat down hard on the pegs. Soon, the tent was securely fastened to the ground. Vivi wiped some sweat from her brow, holding the bat over her shoulder and beaming with pride at her handiwork. “See? It works just fiiiiine, and so will everything else on our trip.”

A little wild goose chase should do nicely. It quietly leap onto the ground with a small smile, ready to initiate the chase

Vivi, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the company. She merely continued setting up camp, assembling a fire pit and a decent size pile of kindling.

The large creature crouched low to the ground and stalked to a tree near them. It leapt onto a high tree branch and sat with a feline-like hunch with its large wings spread wide open, it’s eyes highlighted against its silhouette in a squint.

“Wait, for real? That was faaaaaaAAAAAAAA!” She nearly fell over in surprise on seeing the looming figure of the griffin perched high in the tree above them. “Shit, I didn’t think this would get real so fast! Dammit, where’s that tag…” She fished around in her sleeves, hastily searching for a binding spell to hold the griffin in place.

While Vivi searched for something in her sleeve, the griffin turned tail and proceeded to leap from one branch to another until it reached the ground and bolted

“Ow,” she groaned before glaring up at the rather smug-looking griffin. “If I stained my skirt because of you, you’re gonna be sorry!”

“Not a bad idea,” Vivi whispered back, “but go slow. We don’t wanna scare this thing.” The pooch nodded and padded across the campsite, keeping low to the ground. Meanwhile Vivi reached up her sleeve with the smooth, graceful slowness of a glacier, searching for the spell tag once more. She scarcely dared to breathe with the griffin in such close proximity.

Vivi glanced around the lobby of the Haunted Playhouse, feeling more than a little lost. After the mess she’d made last time, she figured it was a good idea to call ahead of time and schedule her interview with the Phantom of the Musical - Mr. Rowan Russel, she reminded herself, recalling the name she’d finally thought to ask over the phone - and she was thrilled to actually get an appointment. And yet… She still recalled how Cerise had been in tears after learning the ghost haunting her family’s theater was in fact her father. Had the two sorted everything out yet? Had anything changed between them since Cerise learned the big secret? … And was anybody going to come show Vivi where to go? She didn’t want to sneak in through the shops again, but if Mr. Russel, or Cerise, or Note and Cadence, or SOMEBODY didn’t come out and give her directions, she might just have to.

“Whoa! Mystery, are you okay?” Vivi crouched down beside the bed to check on him, but the only reply he gave was a frightened whine.

“M-Mystery..? Did I do something wrong..?” She leaned over her bed, pink and green hair draping onto the floor, “I’m sorry if I did…”

Vivi frowned, the gears turning in her head. Clearly it was a smell that set him off, but… No… surely she can’t be THAT cheesy. “Hey, Cerise… Are you by any chance wearing anything with a cherry blossom fragrance? I don’t know why, but Mystery gets REALLY freaked out when he smells cherry blossoms. I can’t even take him down certain roads in the spring without him making a run for it.”

She hopped off the bed, going to her bathroom and coming back with the bottle, “I… I didn’t know…”

Hesitantly he took a whiff. His whole body relaxed as he recognized the scent of jasmine, Vivi’s fragrance of choice, and he bowed his head for her to give him a scratch behind the ears. Eventually Mystery eased out from under the bed. He still glanced around the room warily, but at least he wasn’t scared out of his mind anymore.